Method for Automobile Safe Wireless Communications

ABSTRACT

A method and system for preventing an operator of a vehicle from using a handheld wireless communication device without a hands-free communication device associated therewith when the vehicle is in motion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/435,643, filed May 17, 2006, which is acontinuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/673,725,filed Sep. 29, 2003. The disclosure of such applications are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety where appropriate forteachings of additional or alternative details, features, and/ortechnical background, from which priority is asserted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention described and claimed herein relate to methods and systemsfor wireless communications. Specifically, they relate to methods andsystems that prevent a handheld wireless telecommunication user fromusing a wireless telecommunication device in situations that wouldcreate safety hazards for the user or the general public.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Handheld wireless communication technology has come a long way since the1980s. A handheld wireless communication user in the early days ofhandheld wireless communication had to carry a handheld wirelesscommunication device in a bag. Today, handheld wireless communicationdevices are not only compact and stylish but also capable of much morethan their bulky predecessors. The development of digital handheldwireless communication technologies increasingly facilitate variety ofhandheld wireless communication devices to communicate voice, data, orboth simultaneously via different networks including the Internet.

One of the most popular handheld wireless communication devices is thewireless telephone. While the advancement of relevant technologies hasgreatly enabled flexible application of wireless telephones, suchubiquitous use of wireless telephones has also created new safetyhazards. This is true of other handheld wireless communications devices,e.g., without limitation, PDAs/mobile PCs. For example, the use ofhandheld wireless communication devices by drivers of automobiles hasbeen directly correlated with an increasing number of automobileaccidents. The use of an handheld wireless communication device in amoving vehicle not only requires the use of one or both of the driver'shands on occasion, but also diverts the driver's attention from drivingthereby delaying response time to prevent avoidable accidents.

The problem associated with the use of handheld wireless communicationdevices has become increasingly significant. It has reached the pointthat serious concerns are raised regarding the safety of both the driveras well as the general public. Some states within the United States andother countries have enacted, or are considering the enactment oflegislation banning the use of handheld wireless communication devicesby operators of moving vehicles. Even with enactment of thesejurisdictions, many operators of vehicles are willing to risk beingticketed recognizing that the law is difficult and costly to implement.

The problem of operators of moving vehicles employing handheld wirelesscommunication devices without a hands-free communication device isexpected to worsen progressively. The latter is expected in part basedon the new trend of implementing mobile computing offices to facilitatethe demand that an individual be made available 24 hours a day/sevendays a week and a substantial increase in the number of handheldwireless communication device sales. Consequently, government agenciesand the automotive industry are seeking a solution to this problem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention claimed and/or described herein is described in terms ofexemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments are described indetail with reference to drawings, which are part of the description ofthe invention. These embodiments are non-limiting exemplary embodiments,in which like reference numerals represent similar structures throughoutthe several views of the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1(a) depicts an exemplary partial breakaway diagrammatic side viewof an automobile with an arrangement to ensure safe wirelesscommunications, according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 1(b) depicts an exemplary partial aerial view of an automobile withan arrangement to ensure safe wireless communications, according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2(a) depicts an exemplary partial breakaway diagrammatic side viewof an automobile with an arrangement to ensure safe wirelesscommunications, according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2(b) depicts an exemplary partial aerial view of an automobile withan arrangement to ensure safe wireless communications, according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary functional block diagram of an on-boardautomobile computer control system configured to facilitate automobilesafe wireless communication control, according to at least oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary process, in which an automobilesafe wireless commumication control system interacts with a handheldwireless communication device to ensure safety, according to at leastone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary architecture in which an automobile safe wirelesscommunication control system cooperates with a telecom service providerto ensure safe wireless communications, according to at least oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is further described in detail taking reference to thefigures illustrating the systematic arrangement for controllingcommunication with a wireless handheld device while driving a vehiclemoving at higher than a threshold speed, or at any speed above zero (inany direction).

FIG. 1(a) depicts an exemplary partial breakaway diagrammatic side viewof an automobile with an arrangement to ensure safe wirelesscommunications, according to a first embodiment of the presentinventions. In FIG. 1(a), an operator 11 is in control of a movablevehicle 10 and is in possession of a handheld wireless communicationdevice 15. The movable vehicle 10 may correspond to a vehicle that ismovable such as an automobile, a truck, a train, a bus, a boat, anairplane or a motorcycle. The handheld wireless communication device 15may be, for example (without limitation) a wireless cellular phone, aPDA with wireless capabilities, or a mobile personal computer.

FIG. 1(b) depicts an exemplary partial aerial view of an automobile 10with an arrangement to ensure safe wireless communications, according tothe first embodiment of the present invention. In the automobile 10,there is an emitter 17 which emits a narrow signal beam 18 around anarea where the operator of the vehicle is located (e.g., the head area).In this depicted embodiment, the emitter 17 is installed on the side ofthe vehicle. For example, the emitter may be installed on the rim of thedoor frame. The narrow signal beam 18 is then transmitted towards theinterior of the vehicle around the area of the operator's head.

The target area where the narrow signal beam is to reach may be withintwo to five feet from the emitter 17. The narrow signal beam 18 may berequired to be no more than two feet in diameter. The narrow signal beam18 may be intercepted by the handheld wireless communication device 15through, for example, a port 16 on the handheld wireless communicationdevice 15. The port 16 may correspond to a Bluetooth or an IR port,where a blue tooth system covers a diameter range of around 10 feet andan “IrDA” infrared red system covers less than 5-10 feet with a properline of sight.

Bluetooth/IR communication ports may be made available on most of thecurrently available handheld wireless communicating devices such as,without limitation, cellular phones, PDAs, voice communicating PDA's andmobile PC's. Since many of the current and planned hand-held devices maybe needed for performing a variety of other functions, such Bluetooth/IRports on handheld communication devices according to this inventionwould remain available for such other functions as well.

FIG. 2(a) depicts an exemplary partial breakaway diagrammatic side viewof an automobile with an arrangement to ensure safe wirelesscommunications according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the emitter 17 is installed at adifferent location. For example, the emitter 17 may be installed on therim of the front window of the automobile 10. The target area of theemitter narrow signal beam 18 appropriately covers the same area: theoperator's seat where the handheld wireless communication device 15 maybe used.

FIG. 2(b) depicts an exemplary partial aerial view of the automobile 10with the emitter 17 installed at an alternative position to ensure safewireless communications, according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention. In this embodiment, the emitter 17 is located infront of the operator's seat and the narrow signal beam 18 is thentransmitted towards the interior of the vehicle to cover an appropriaterange around the operator's seat.

The arrangements depicted in either FIG. 1(a) or FIG. 2(a) constitutes aautomobile safe wireless communication system (AS-WICS) to ensure safewireless communications within a moving vehicle such as the automobile10. The AS-WICS does not interfere with the functioning of the otherdevices in the vehicle. Signals used by the AS-WICS to ensure safewireless communications may be designed in a manner that is designatedto be specific to handheld communication devices located near theoperator's area only.

In one embodiment of the invention, AS-WICS comprises a means forsensing when the vehicle is in motion, and may include a means, such as,without limitation, one or more sensors and software, to determinewhether the vehicle velocity is greater than zero (in any direction),that the drive mode is selected, or that the park mode is not selectedin the vehicle, or that the neutral mode is selected in the vehiclewithout the brakes fully engaged. The AS-WICS may also provide amechanism for sensing, such as a sensor which is sensitive to a handheldwireless communication device signal, when the handheld wirelesscommunication device is in use by the operator of the vehicle without anhands-free communication device being operatively associated, such as bywire or by transmission, to the handheld wireless communication device.The AS-WICS may also function to prevent the use of the handheldwireless device by an operator of the vehicle by, for example,transmitting a signal to the handheld wireless device which can controlthe operation of the handheld wireless device. The wireless means forsensing when the velocity of the vehicle exceeds a certain threshold,advantageously zero velocity, may be carried out by simpleBluetooth/Infrared technology as is described in greater detail below.

The Bluetooth wireless specification includes both link layer andapplication layer definitions for product developers which supportsdata, voice, and content-centric applications. Handheld wirelesscommunication devices that comply with the Bluetooth wirelessspecification operate in the unlicensed, 2.4 GHz radio spectrum ensuringcommunication compatibility worldwide. These radios use a spreadspectrum, frequency hopping, full-duplex signal at up to 1600 hops/set.The signal hops among 79 frequencies at 1 MHz intervals to give a highdegree of interference immunity. Up to seven simultaneous connectionscan be established and maintained. Further details can be viewed atwww.bluetooth.org or www.bluetooth.com.

The IrDA specifications, on the other hand, is intended for high speedshort range, line of sight, point-to-point cordless datatransfer—suitable for handheld communication devices. Since 1984, “h-DAData” defines a standard for an interoperable universal two way cordlessinfrared light transmission data port. IrDA technology is already inover 300 million electronic devices including PC's, PDA's, cellularphones, cameras, toys, watches and many other mobile devices. Maincharacteristics of IrDA signaling include:

-   Range: Continuous operation between two contacts for at least 1    meter.-   Bi-directional communication is the basis of all specifications.-   Data transmission starting from 9600 kbps primary speed going up to    4.0 mbps.-   Data packets are protected using CRC (from CRC 16 for speeds up to    1.152 mbps to CRC-32 at 4.0 mbps)

As described earlier, the port 16 on the handheld wireless communicationdevice 15 is used to receive signals transmitted using BlueTooth/IrDAtechnologies. The IR ports on handheld wireless communication devicesfunction in the following manner. When a handheld wireless communicationdevice, e.g. (without limitation) the cell phone/PDA/mobile PC 15 is inuse, the Bluetooth/IR port 16 is automatically activated. TheBluetooth/VIR scanning beam is active when the automobile 10 is turnedon irrespective of whether the handheld wireless communication device isin use. If the handheld wireless communication device is in use withoutattached to a hands-free communication device, the Bluetooth/IR port 16in the handheld device will be triggered. A hands-free device withrespect to a cellular phone, for example (without limitation) may be anearphone or a separate docket station which allows the handheld wirelessdevice to function without the operator having to hold the handhelddevice.

The AS-WICS may function when the automobile 10 is in motion. It maydetects a potential safety hazard related to the use of the handheldcommunication device while the vehicle is moving. Such a safety hazardmay be predefined. For example, it may be determined that any use of thehandheld wireless communication device in a moving vehicle withoutattached to a hands-free device is considered potentially hazardous tothe safety to the operator, to others in the moving vehicle, and thegeneral public. The AS-WICS detects such a pre-defined safety hazard andonce detected, the AS-WICS may then interfere with the use of thehandheld wireless communication device. For example, it mayautomatically terminate the use or only allow the usage when it is foremergency purposes.

To ensure safe use of the handheld wireless communication device in amoving automobile, the computer control system in the automobile 10monitors the velocity of the automobile 10 to sense when the automobilevelocity exceeds a pre-specified speed threshold. For example, such apre-determined speed threshold may be set to zero velocity (in anydirection). Whenever the sensed velocity of the automobile 10 exceedsthis speed threshold, for example zero, at that moment in time the useof a handheld wireless communication device, e.g. (without limitation)cell phone/PDA/MOBILE PC 15, is considered to become a safety hazard.The speed threshold may also be set to values other than zero, such as asmall yet steady speed after a specified duration. The use of thehandheld device 15 when the automobile 10 exceeds the speed threshold isdeemed to be a safety hazard.

Once it is determined that a safety hazard is present, the AS-WICS takesfurther action to eliminate the hazard. In such a case, the emitter 17will emit a signal within the narrow beam 18 which will initiate calltermination on the handheld wireless communication device 15. Thetermination may take effect immediately, or a warning and a short delaywith a message communicated to the operator (to warn of the impendingtermination) before the operation of the handheld device is terminated.Thus, for example, the handheld wireless communication device 15 mayindicate an incoming message and give a period of time for the operatorto stop the vehicle in a safe location to respond to the incomingmessage. When there is an incoming message to the handheld device, anoutgoing message may be transmitted after a set period of time to thecaller to indicate that the operator is not able to take the call for aspecified reason and time frame.

FIG. 3 describes a computer control system 400 that functions as anautomobile onboard controller for various telecommunication functions,including the control of handheld wireless device 15 used in a movingautomobile 10. A central processing unit 40 is provided andinterconnected to various other components via a system bus 50. Anoperating system 41 running on the processor 40 provides control and maybe used to coordinate the functions of the various components of thecontrol system. The operating system 41 may be stored in Random AccessMemory (RAM) 42, deployed in an automobile computer control system andmay have a sufficient amount of memory such as 64 or 256 megabytes ofstorage space. Various application programs for different automobilemonitoring and control functions may be stored in Read Only Memory (ROM)44. Such stored application programs may be moved in and out of RAM tobe executed to perform their respective functions.

Application programs deployed on the computer control system 400 mayinclude the automobile safe wireless communication system (AS-WICS)constructed and configured according to different embodiments of thepresent invention. An automobile display 49 may be controlled through adisplay adapter 48 to provide information to the operator. Theautomobile computer control system 400 monitors a wide variety ofautomobile parameters through, for example, monitors 52 and 54 withsensors connected to the processor 40 through their respective I/Oadapters 51 and 53.

Information monitored by the monitors 52 and 54 may be processed.Appropriate responsive control signals may then be generated anddistributed through output adapter 45. According to the presentinvention, the control system may detect that the vehicle is in motionthrough sensors positioned at one or more locations of the vehicle. Forexample, a motion may be detected because it is sensed that theautomobile velocity is greater than zero (in any direction). Motion maybe deduced when it is detected that the park mode of the vehicle is notselected in the automobile 10. Motion of automobile 10 may be deducedwhen the driving mode is selected or a neutral mode is selected withbrakes not fully engaged. Other alternatives to detect the motion of theautomobile 10 may be employed which would be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art.

When the automobile 10 is in a driving mode (i.e., in motion), the useof the handheld wireless communication device 15 may be restricted.There may be different degrees of restriction, depending on, forexample, how the handheld device is used and for what purposes. Forexample, use for non-emergency purposes may be terminated. In this case,a call termination signal Bluetooth/IR signal may be sent out from aBluetooth/IR adapter 55 via Bluetooth/IR emitter 56. When the calltermination signal is received at the BlueTooth/IR port 16 of thehandheld wireless communication device 15 (as depicted in FIG. 1(a) andFIG. 2(a)), the operations of the handheld device may be terminated. Thehandheld wireless communication device may be loaded with software orotherwise configured such that receipt of the call termination signalcauses only non-emergency numbers to be blocked. Alternatively, it maybe determined, prior to sending the call termination signal, to see, forexample with respect to a cell phone embodiment whether the use isassociated with a list of pre-defined emergency designated telephonenumbers. In such exceptional conditions, the termination may beexcluded.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary process, in which an automobilesafe wireless communication control system interacts with a handheldwireless communication device to ensure safety, according to at leastone embodiment of the present invention. The control system may performinitialization first at 505. For example, a speed threshold or a maximumvelocity at which the handheld wireless device 15 may be used in theautomobile is set at 510. The vehicle (or the automobile 10) may then bemonitored, at 515, to detect whether the automobile 10 is in a motionwith a velocity greater than the predetermined maximum velocity. Asdiscussed above, there may be different alternatives to detect themotion of the automobile 10. For instance, the vehicle control systemmay scan the driving mode of the vehicle to see whether the automobile10 is not in park/neutral mode with brakes fully engaged or if it is ina driving mode.

If it is detected that the automobile 10 is in motion, furtherdeterminations may be made to decide whether the handheld wirelessdevice is permitted to be used. For example in one embodiment, it may beexamined to see whether the handheld wireless communication device isturned on at 520. If the handheld device is not turned on, themonitoring process returns to 515 to keep monitoring whether theautomobile 10 is in motion. If the handheld device is turned on,determined at 520, then the AS-WICS may further check to see whether thehandheld wireless device is actually in use.

If the handheld wireless device is in use, subsequent determination maybe further made as to whether the current handheld wirelesscommunication device use qualifies as an emergency use. In the contextof a cellular phone, for example, the emergency use may be defined as alist of emergency telephone numbers, as discussed earlier. In this case,the user of the cellular phone and the service provider that providesthe wireless communication services to the cellular phone are permittedto define, agree, and store a set of emergency numbers such as 911, EMSand Fire services. Such a list of emergency phone numbers defines thescope of the emergency use of the handheld wireless device 15 and may bestored at a certain location from where they can be retrieved whenneeded. For example, such emergency numbers may be stored in the controlsystem or in the handheld wireless communication device.

To determine whether the call is associated with emergency use, thecalling or called numbers may be compared with such a list of emergencyphone numbers before the call is terminated by the system. If the use isassociated with an emergency use, the emergency call may then bemonitored, at 530, including recording the emergency number involved andthe duration of the emergency call. The monitoring of the emergency callcontinues until the termination of the call.

If the use of the handheld device is not an emergency use, a hands-freedevice scan process may be activated to detect, at 540, whether thehandheld wireless device is associated with a hands-free device. If thedetermination is “YES”, i.e., the handheld device is associated with ahands-free device, the call termination process is deactivated at 545.If the answer is “NO”, i.e., the handheld device is not associated with(e.g. physically or by transmission link) to a hands-free device, thenthe use of the handheld device is considered to be a safety hazard. Inthis case, the AS-WICS may initiate a restriction procedure thatterminates the use of the handheld device, or alternatively the handhelddevice receiving a signal from the AS-WICS may by programming meansinitiate a restriction procedure that terminates the use of the handhelddevice. Alternative termination procedures may be implemented. Forexample, in some embodiments of the invention, the AS-WICS may firstwarn the operator of the termination before the termination takes place.In other embodiments (not shown), the AS-WICS may simply terminate theuse.

A pre-determined period of time may be enforced in a call terminationprocedure. For example, a number of seconds (e.g., n seconds) may beallowed as a grace period for use before the actual termination takesplace or a number of seconds may be allowed for the operator to bringthe car to a stop in order to employ the handheld wireless communicationdevice. During this grace period, the user may be warned, at 550, thatthe call will be terminated in a defined time frame, and/or the callermay be notified that the user is in a moving vehicle and will be unableto take the call unless the vehicle is stopped. Such warning may beconveyed through conventional verbal warning, e.g. “This call will beterminated in 15 seconds unless you stop your automobile in a safe placeand/or attach a hands-free device immediately”. The warning may persistfor the grace period, determined at 555, until the end of the graceperiod. Simultaneously outgoing message may be transmitted to a callerto indicate that the operator of the vehicle is not able to answer thecall at the time. For instance, a message may be sent out to the caller,stating that “driver is driving the car without the earphone attached tothe mobile communication device”. At the end of the grace period, thecall termination is activated, at 560, to terminate the use of thehandheld device.

The Bluetooth/IR scanning beam may be activated once the automobileignition is turned on. This may be irrespective of whether handheldwireless communication device is in use. When the handheld wirelesscommunication device 15 is in use without hands-free communicationdevice, the Bluetooth/IR port in the wireless communication device willbe activated and the delay, as well as the “Call End” or “CallTermination”, may then be carried out by a sequence in the device or atthe service provider.

When the automobile's computer control system beams Bluetooth/IR signalto the handheld device, it may simultaneously trigger appropriatesub-systems to carry out warnings and termination of the call signal.The termination procedure may proceed without interruption unless thehandheld wireless communication device is attached to a hands-freecommunication device. The termination procedure may be implemented as anapplication software deployed, for example, in the wirelesscommunication device. Alternatively, the telecom service provider may berequired to configure and to facilitate the update of the wirelesscommunication device firmware and/or system applications.

Once the use of the handheld device is terminated (at 560), a calltermination summary reporting procedure may be activated which maygenerate or display a call summary at 565. The AS-WICS may then proceedto 515 to continue the monitoring and termination process.

In some embodiments, the AS-WICS may be designed to reflect laws andregulations imposed by certain law enforcement authorities of thegovernment. For example, penalties related to any use of handheld devicecausing potential safety hazard may be imposed and enforced through thetelecom service provider. Specific parameters defining such prohibiteduse of handheld devices in moving vehicles may be specified by suchauthorities and implemented by the AS-WICS. Penalties may include civilsanctions or monetary penalties. For example, the authorities mayrequire the service provider to report such prohibited use of handhelddevices or require the service provider to charge a higher rateassociated with such prohibited uses. Furthermore, the authorities mayrequire the service provider to report the length of time related tosuch prohibited use of handheld devices. This is illustrated in thedotted line path in FIG. 4. When the use is considered as a safetyhazard but it is related to an emergency use (hence, it is notterminated), the emergency number involved and the length of the use arerecorded at 530 and subsequently transmitted from the handheld device toa service provider which may then forward such information toappropriate authorities or impose a penalty charge.

Other alternatives may also be provided (not shown in figures). Forexample, the AS-WICS may provide the operator of the vehicle using thehandheld device the option to override the call termination. This optionmay be important in an emergency. In this case, when the AS-WICS warnsthe use of the call termination, the user may elect to override thewarning and interrupt the call termination procedure. In this case, theuse may be considered as an emergency use but the number of theassociated call as well as the duration of the call may be recorded (at530) and such recorded information may then be sent to the serviceprovider who may accordingly impose penalty charges or report to theappropriate authorities.

The AS-WICS as described herein may be deployed in different forms. Forexample, it may be implemented as a stand-alone device and may beattached to a location inside (or less advantageously outside) of theautomobile 10. In this case, it may directly (by wire) or indirectly(wirelessly) communicate with the control system of the automobile 10.Alternatively, AS-WICS may also be implemented as part of the computercontrol system of the automobile 10. In this case, the AS-WICS isdesigned as a coherent part of the computer control system of theautomobile 10.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary architecture in which the AS-WICS isdeployed in an automobile to ensure safety in a wireless network,according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Asimplified typical handheld wireless device, e.g., without limitation, acell phone/PDA/mobile PC 15, is used in the automobile 10. Through thecommunication tower 22, a base station 23, and a switching center 24,the handheld wireless communication device 15 transmits/receivesinformation through a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 25. Thereare established channels among different components of the network. Forexample, the handheld wireless device 15 is connected via wireless airinterface transmission paths 20 to the receiving/transmission antenna 21at site 22. It should be understood that each illustrative cell site 22will have many handheld wireless devices 15 with wireless connectabilityto their respective site. The base station 23 may be respectivelyassociated with site 22 for RF signal transmitting/receiving via the airinterfaces 20 to the handheld wireless device, e.g., without limitation,cell phone/PDA/mobile PC 15. The base station 23 is connected to themobile switching center 24. This mobile switching center 24 may have aplurality of wireless devices connected to it. The switch center 24 mayoperate to control the channel connections, by switching into and out ofthe PSTN 25, those calls originated or terminated at the handheldwireless device. Switching center 24 connects channels from handheldwireless device, e.g., without limitation, cell phone/PDA/mobile PC 15and others into the PSTN 25.

When there is incoming information 30 designated to the handheld device15, the incoming information 30 is forwarded from the communicationtower 22 to the mobile station or handheld device 15. When it isdetected that the use of the handheld device 15 in a given environmentis hazardous, a call termination may take place. As a consequence of thecall termination, an outgoing information 35 may be transmitted from thehandheld device 15 via the wireless communication network (including theantenna 21, the communication tower 22, the base station 23, the switchcenter 24, and the PSTN 25). Such an outgoing information may bedirected at the caller, indicating the operator is not able to answerthe call. It may also be directed at the service provider to includeinformation such as recorded emergency use (or override use) and thecorresponding recorded length of such prohibited use.

While the inventions have been described with reference to the certainillustrated embodiments, the words that have been used herein are wordsof description, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made,within the purview of the appended claims, without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention in its aspects. Although the inventionhas been described herein with reference to particular structures, acts,and materials, the invention is not to be limited to the particularsdisclosed, but rather can be embodied in a wide variety of forms, someof which may be quite different from those of the disclosed embodiments,and extends to all equivalent structures, acts, and, materials, such asare within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method for preventing handheld wireless communication in a vehicleby an operator of said vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:determining whether the velocity of the vehicle exceeds zero velocity(in any direction); and restricting the operator's use of a handheldwireless communication device if the velocity of the vehicle is greaterthan zero unless a pre-defined exceptional condition exists.
 2. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the handheld wireless communicationdevice is selected from the group consisting of: a cellular phone; aPDA; and a mobile personal computer.
 3. The method according to claim 1,wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of: anautomobile, a truck, a bus, train, tractor, crane, a 2-or 3-wheelconveyance, a motorcycle, or a floating device such as boat or ship oran airplane;
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step ofdetermining the velocity of the vehicle includes sensing throughwireless means.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein saidwireless means includes: blue tooth means; and infrared means.
 6. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the pre-defined exception conditionincludes use of the handheld wireless communication device for emergencypurposes.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the emergencypurpose is defined as a list of emergency designations.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 7, wherein an emergency designation includes anemergency telephone number.
 9. The method according to claim 8, whereinthe emergency telephone numbers are pre-stored in one of: a controlsystem installed in the moving vehicle and configured to restrict theuse of the handheld wireless communication device when a safety hazardexists; and the handheld wireless communication device.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the step of restricting the operator's useof a handheld wireless communication device comprises: sending a controlsignal to where the operator of the moving vehicle as well as thehandheld wireless communication device are located; intercepting thecontrol signal by the handheld wireless communication device; andterminating the operation of the handheld wireless communication deviceby the handheld wireless communication device.
 11. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the use of the handheld wireless communicationdevice includes at least one of: receiving incoming communicationinformation; and transmitting outgoing communication information. 12.The method according to claim 11, wherein the communication informationincludes at least one of: voice; data; and messages.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the steps of terminating the handheldwireless communication device by the handheld wireless communicationdevice the operation comprises: informing the operator of the movingvehicle that the operation of the handheld wireless communication deviceis to be automatically terminated after a pre-determined period of time;and ending the operation of the handheld wireless communication deviceafter the pre-determined period of time.
 14. The method according toclaim 13, further comprising sending, when there is incomingcommunication information arriving at the handheld wirelesscommunication device, an outgoing message to the source of the incominginformation indicating that the operator of the moving vehicle, theintended receiver of the incoming information, is not able to respond tothe incoming information.
 15. A method for prevention of use by theoperator of a moving vehicle a handheld wireless communication device,said method comprising the steps of: receiving by the handheld wirelesscommunication device, when it is turned on, a control signal forrestricting the use of the handheld wireless communication device;restricting the operation of the handheld wireless communication devicein accordance with the control signal.
 16. The method according to claim15, wherein said receiving includes receiving through at least one of awireless communication means and a wired means.
 17. The method accordingto claim 16, wherein the wireless communication means includes: bluetooth communication means; and infrared communication means.
 18. Themethod according to claim 15, wherein the control signal is transmittedwhen use of the handheld wireless communication device by the operatorof the vehicle is considered a potential safety hazard.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 18, wherein the potential safety hazard is presentwhen the current operating environment satisfies: the handheld wirelesscommunication device is turned on in the moving vehicle in a position inthe vehicle associated with the operator of the vehicle and the detectedvelocity of the moving vehicle exceeds zero; and the handheld wirelesscommunication device is not attached to a hands-free communicationdevice.
 20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising thesteps of sensing whether the handheld wireless communication device isattached to a hands-free device; sensing whether the handheld wirelesscommunication device is attached to a hands-free device; sending thesensed state of the handheld wireless communication device to a controlmechanism that generates the control signal.
 21. The method according toclaim 15, wherein the handheld wireless communication device is selectedfrom the group consisting of: a cellular phone, a PDA, and a mobilepersonal computer.
 22. The method according to claim 20, wherein thestep of sending the sensed state of the handheld wireless communicationdevice is through a wireless means.
 23. The method according to claim22, wherein the wireless means includes: the blue tooth communicationmeans; and the infrared communication.
 24. The method according to claim15, wherein said step of restricting the operation of the handheldwireless communication device in accordance the control signal is notperformed if a pre-defined exception condition exists.
 25. The methodaccording to claim 24, wherein a pre-defined exception condition isselected from the group consisting of: using the handheld wirelesscommunication device for emergency purposes, and using the handheldwireless communication device in association with a hands-free device.26. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of restrictingthe operation of the handheld wireless communication device furthercomprises: informing the operator of the moving vehicle that operationof the handheld wireless communication device is to be automaticallyterminated after a pre-determined period of time; and ending theoperation of the handheld wireless communication device after thepre-determined period of time.
 27. A control system in a vehicle,comprising: a sensing means for detecting a velocity of the vehicle; acontrol signal generating means for generating when a velocity of thevehicle is detected, said control signal restricting the use of thehandheld wireless communication device by the operator of the movingvehicle; a transmitting means for transmitting the control signal to thehandheld wireless communication device in an area within the vehiclewhere the operator of the vehicle and the handheld wirelesscommunication device is located without effecting the use of handheldwireless communication devices at other locations in the vehicle. 28.The system according to claim 27, wherein the sensing means includes awireless sensing means, which includes one of a blue tooth means and aninfrared means.
 29. The system according to claim 27, wherein thevehicle is selected from the group consisting of: an automobile, atruck, a bus, a train, a tractor, a crane, a 2-or 3-wheel conveyance, ora floating device such as a boat or ship or an airplane.
 30. The systemaccording to claim 27, wherein the sensing means detects a velocity ofthe vehicle when a park mode of the vehicle is not selected and/or whena neutral mode of the vehicle is selected with brakes not fully engaged.31. The system according to claim 27, wherein the control signalrestricting the use of the handheld wireless communication device by theoperator of the moving vehicle does not restrict use of the handheldwireless communication device when the handheld wireless communicationdevice is operationally-associated with a hands-free device, or thehandheld wireless communication device is being used to respond to anemergency.
 32. The system according to claim 27, wherein the controlsystem in the vehicle is implemented as part of the computer controlsystem of the vehicle.
 33. The system according to claim 32, wherein thecontrol system in the vehicle is implemented as a stand-alone devicewhich is installed within the vehicle and communicates with the computercontrol system of the vehicle.
 34. A method for a service providerproviding wireless communication services to a user on a handheldwireless communication device, comprising the steps of: forwardingcommunication signals from and to the handheld wireless communicationdevice; receiving information sent from the handheld wirelesscommunication device, wherein the received information indicates alength of a period during which the user uses the handheld wirelesscommunication device while driving a moving vehicle by overriding arestriction on the use of the handheld wireless communication deviceissued based on a detected potentially safety hazardous condition; andpenalizing the user of the handheld wireless communication device basedon the received information.
 35. The method according to claim 34,wherein the handheld wireless communication device is selected from thegroup consisting of: a cellular phone, a PDA, and a mobile personalcomputer.
 36. The method according to claim 34, wherein the vehicle isselected from the group consisting of: an automobile, a truck, a bus, atrain, a tractor, a crane, a 2-or 3-wheel conveyance, a motorcycle, or afloating device such as a boat or ship or an airplane.
 37. The methodaccording to claim 34, wherein the potentially safety hazardouscondition includes at least one of: the handheld wireless communicationdevice is turned on in the vehicle while the vehicle is moving at acertain velocity above zero; and the handheld wireless communicationdevice is turned on in the vehicle while the vehicle is moving and isnot attached to a hands-free communication device.
 38. The methodaccording to claim 34, wherein said step of penalizing is determinedaccording to at least one of: a service agreement between the serviceprovider and the user; and a government regulation.
 39. The methodaccording to claim 34, wherein said step of penalizing includes:imposing a higher rate of service charge for the length of the periodduring which the user overrides the restriction on the use of thehandheld wireless communication device; and reporting to an authoritythat the user has overridden a restriction on the use of the handheldwireless communication device while driving when a potentially safetyhazardous condition is detected.